A 39-year-old company director, Ismail Elmagdoub, has been fined for the illegal removal of three historic apple trees in his Cotswold garden. Elmagdoub explained that he had the trees chopped down because his dog became sick after eating fallen apples, and the trees attracted wasps that caused issues for his family. The trees were located in a conservation area at the back of his garden and were believed to be at least 60 years old, with historical records dating back to 1891 indicating they were part of an orchard.
Elmagdoub, who owns a business support company named Crab Apple Services Ltd, apologized for his actions, acknowledging that he had acted impulsively. He was ordered to pay fines and costs totaling £8,884. Despite his regret, he emphasized that he acted to protect his family and was unaware that the trees were in a conservation area.